Former Rep. Geraldine Ferraro’s political pals yesterday hailed her fighting spirit and said it will help the gutsy pioneer take on her toughest opponent ever – incurable blood cancer.

Ferraro, who in 1984 became the nation’s first female vice-presidential candidate, revealed yesterday she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1998 and is in remission after being treated with low doses of the powerful drug thalidomide.

“She’s a fighter. If anyone can beat a so-called incurable disease, it’s Gerry Ferraro,” said Sen. Charles Schumer, who ran against and beat her in 1998 when he captured the New York Democratic primary for a Senate seat.

The plucky 65-year-old Queens grandmother plans to testify before the U.S. Senate tomorrow in an all-out campaign to boost the awareness of myeloma and lobby for more research funds.

“I admire her so much. She’s a great friend of mine,” said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester) said, “Gerry is a fighter, and I’m with her in this battle . . . and she is such a fighter that I know we’re going to win. I wish her well and lots of love.”

Ferraro, conceding “this is a race I may not win,” insisted she does not want anyone feeling sorry for her.

“I don’t want anybody to treat me any differently. I don’t want to have a big ‘C’ on my face, because that’s not me. I mean, I’m still going to go on and do the things I do,” she declared on NBC’s “Today” show.

“I’m sure she’ll be a winner, with her courage and tremendous energy, to make things better not only for herself, but for all other patients with myeloma,” said Dr. Ken Anderson, one of her doctors.

She was among the first with the disease to receive thalidomide – a drug banned in the early 1960s for causing birth defects in babies whose mothers took it for morning sickness, but which is proving promising against cancer.

Ferraro “has little if any myeloma now,” said Anderson.

“She’s going to do very well for many months or years, although I can’t say she will be cured,” said Anderson, director of the Multiple Myeloma Center at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.